Closure arrangement for coil filament zippers

ABSTRACT

Slide fastener filaments in the form of helical coils are provided with projecting portions on each convolution. The projecting portions on one filament interlock with the projecting portions of a cooperating filament. A plurality of projecting portions are provided on each coil, so that the coils are prevented from becoming separated when twisting forces or a side load is applied to the filaments.

[ 51 July 9, 1974 CLOSURE ARRANGEMENT FOR COIL FILAMENT ZIPPERS Inventor: Max F. Johns, Scotch Plains, NJ.

Assignee: General Zipper Corporation, Long Island City, NY.

Filed: Jan. 3, 1973 Appl. No.: 320,779

US. Cl. 24/205.13 C, 24/205.l6 C [51] Int. Cl ..'A44b 19/12 References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,063,120 11/1962 Steingrubner 24/205.13C 3,412,438 11/1968 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 'Sim 24/205.13 Cv 1,263,375 3/1968 Germany 24/205.l

479,268 11/1969 Switzerland 24/205.l3 C 225,646 l/1963 Austria 24/205.13 C 1,961,987 6/1971 Germany 24/205.l C

Primary Examiner-Bernard A. Gelak v Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Blum, Moscovitz, Friedman & Kaplan [57] ABSTRACT Slide fastener "filaments in the form of helicalcoilsare Field ofSearch ..24/205.l3 C, 205.1 C,

provided with projecting portions on each convolution. The projecting portions on one filamentinterlock with'the projecting portions of a cooperating filament. A plurality of projecting portions are provided on each coil, so that the coils are prevented from becoming separated when'twisting forces or a side load is applied to the filaments.

" PATENTEU JUL 93974 smear? CLOSURE ARRANGEMENT FOR COIL ZIPPERS BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION In the production of zippers made of coiled filaments, the interlocking arrangement has the inherent disadvantage that the zippers open easily when not intended.

This is particularly the case when unusual side loads or twisting forces] areapplied during use of the zipper.

Coiled filament zipper s, heretofore, have had only one interlocking head portion for each convolution of the coil. These head or projecting portions are located at the extreme outer region of the zipper stringer. It has been found in practice that this single projecting portion on each' convolution is insufficient to prevent opening or popping of the zipper, when not intended by the'user. A

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention ro provide azipper closure for coil filaments in which the coils or loopsof the filament are interlocked to resist opening of the zipper, when not intended, upon ap plication of twisting. or side forces] Another object of the present invention is to provide a zipper closure arrangement in which coiled filaments These three projecting portions on each side of a coil interlock with the three projecting portions on a corresponding coil of the cooperating filament. The three projecting portions may be in the form of bosses or beads, for example, made integral with the coil.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings which form part of this application and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a closed Zipper with coiled filaments interlocked" through projections on the coils, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of the zipper arrangement of FIG. 1;

' FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the cooperating filament coils with projections on each coil, in accordance with the present'invention;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of an arrangement in which single projections are provided on the coils of the filaments;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view'of the FIG. 4; v I

' FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of another embodiment in which the coiled filaments are interlocked through projections on the coils, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is across sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 6; and

arrangement of i 2 FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the shape of the projections on the coils in FIGS. 6 and 7.

' DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to thedrawingand in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2, coiled filaments .10 and 12 are woven to supporting tapes l4 and 16, respectively. The supporting tapes'have warp threads 18 andfiller threads 20 interwoven with cords 22 and 24. These cords serve, to strengthen the supporting tapes for the coiled filaments.

Each convolution of the filament 10, as, for example,

convolution 10a, is provided with free projecting portions 10b on each side of a central projection 100 of the convolution. Thus, each convolution, as shown in FIG. I

3, carries six such projecting portions arranged as illustrated..The coils of the filament 12 are similarly constructedwith projecting portions 12b on each convolution 12a, for example, on each side of a central projection 12c. As shown in FIG. 3, the projecting portions are generally cylindrical but roundediat their ends to facilitate simplified interlocking with each other. Thus, it will be-seen that the generally cylindrical projecting portions have axes parallel .to the coil axis around which each coil extends. Moreover each projecting portion of generally cylindrical configuration is of a substantiallyjconstant diameter except for the free end region thereof which is rounded. When the projecting portions are thus interlocked, the coils-of the filaments are in the relative positions as shown in FIGS. land 2.

The coils of filament 10 are, thereby; interlocked with the coils of the filament 12. Asnay be seen from FIG. 1, the lower projecting portions on a turn in-the filament l0 mate and interlock with the upper projecting.

portions on the cooperating turn of the filament 12.

- tions interlock as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. As a result.

Furthermore, each turn of either the filament 10 or filament 12 is sandwiched between two adjacent turns of the other filament. Y 1 I I Whereas the projecting portions onthefilament coils are illustrated as rounded portions in FIG. 3, these projecting portions may have a variety of different shapes and still perform the intended function, in'accordance with the present invention. Thus, FIG.. 8 shows another possible embodiment forthe design and shape of the projecting portions on the turns or loops of the coil filaments. In the design of FIG. 8, the projecting portions are curved inward on the surfaces transverse to the projecting edges.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, filament coils 26 and 28 are pro- A of the inner curved surfaces 30b, an opening 30d is formed when respective projecting portions interlock. Each projecting portion has two projecting edges 30c, solthat each coil is provided with three projecting edges on each side of the coil, wherebya total of six projecting edges are carried by each coil. When interlocked as g in FIG. 6, each coil of a filament with its six projecting portions is sandwiched between two adjacent coils of the other filament. The interlocking action is produced by moving the central projecting portion into the interior of the cooperating filament and against the inner surface of the corresponding projecting portions of the cooperating filament. With the central projecting portions thus arranged as shown in FIG. 7, for example, the two remaining projecting portions on each side of the central portion, form a means to prevent the central portions from becoming disengaged upon the application of a side thrust or twisting force. This same principle applies to the projecting portions on each side of the central projecting portions in the embodiment of FlGS. 2 and 3. Thus, after the central projecting portions in FIGS. 2 and 3 are moved into the interior of the cooperating filaments and are brought to bear against the inner surfaces of the cooperating central projecting portions, the remaining projecting portions on each side of the central portion serve to prevent disengagement of the central portions when unusual twists or side loads are applied. In contrast it will be noted that with the embodiment 'of FIGS. 4 and 5 where there is only a single interlocking projection at the outer end region of each convolution of each filament, if a twisting force or a side load should be applied it will indeed be possible for the coiled filaments to pop apart from each other. It is precisely this latter problem encountered with a construction as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 which is avoided with the structure of the present invention as illustrated in the remaining Figures.

The projecting portions in the embodiment of the present invention may be fabricated integral with the convolutions either before or during coiling thereof.

The construction using three projecting portions at each side of each convolution, in accordance with the present invention, may be applied to 'sewn filament coiled zippers, sewn filament meandering zippers, sewn ladder type zippers, woven filament coil zippers, woven filament meandering zippers, woven ladder type zippers, cast element zippers, blanked element zippers and I other with the outer end region of each convolution of one coil situated between a pair of outer end regions of a pair of adjoining convolutions of the other coil when the slide fastener is closed, and each filament coil'having at the outer end region of each convolution a pair of coaxial interlocking projections of generally cylindrical configuration having a common axis parallel to said coil axis and having a substantially constant diameter, said interlocking projections of said convolutions engaging each other when the slide fastener is in a closed position for maintaining the convolutions of the filament coils interlocked with the outer end regions of one filament coil respectively alternating with and situated between the outer end regions of the other filament coil, and each convolution of each filament coil carrying on each side of its interlocking projections at said outer end region a pair of additonal projections having a construction identical with the interlocking projection and extending parallel thereto for opposing separation of said filament coils from each other when twisting forces are encountered.

2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said pro- 3 5 jections have rounded ends.

filament coils. 

1. In a slide fastener, a pair of filament coils each having a plurality of convolutions extending around a given coil axis with each convolution having an inner end region and an outer end region, a pair of tapes respectively fixed with the inner end regions of the convolutions of the pair of filament coils to form a pair of stringers therewith, said outer end regions of said convolutions of said filament coils alternating with each other with the outer end region of each convolution of one coil situated between a pair of outer end regions of a pair of adjoining convolutions of the other coil when the slide fastener is closed, and each filament coil having at the outer end region of each convolution a pair of coaxial interlocking projections of generally cylindrical configuration having a common axis parallel to said coil axis and having a substantially constant diameter, said interlocking projections of said convolutions engaging each other when the slide fastener is in a closed position for maintaining the convolutions of the filament coils interlocked with the outer end regions of one filament coil respectively alternating with and situated between the outer end regions of the other filament coil, and each convolution of each filament coil carrying on each side of its interlocking projections at said outer end region a pair of additonal projections having a construction identical with the interlocking projection and extending parallel thereto for opposing separation of said filament coils from each other when twisting forces are encountered.
 2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said projections have rounded ends.
 3. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said additional projections as well as said interlocking projections are formed integrally with the convolutions of the filament coils. 